Last night yielded the devastating news that acclaimed actor Chadwick Boseman had passed away from stage IV colon cancer. It seems like since 2020 began we have been facing one tragedy after another, but I don’t want to look at Boseman’s death as another tragedy in the wake of this unrelenting year. I want to remember him for his talent, his philanthropy, and the mark he left on both the black and the film communities. 

On the big screen, he played the likes of Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, and James Brown; larger than life figures in history, and he took on their stories with ease. Of course, Boseman’s life is not summed up by the films he made, but through those roles he became an inspiration to millions of people. His masterful ability to take on these powerful, inspiring black stories needs no more evidence than his most iconic role: The Black Panther. 

While many have disavowed comic book films, calling them “mindless, juvenile, and inconsequential”, Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal of King T’Challa is enough to prove the genre’s importance 10 times over, long after the credits stopped rolling and the theater was empty. Because of him, black children saw a hero and knew behind his mask he looked like them. For months after the film’s premiere, you couldn’t go anywhere without getting the Wakandan salute, or hearing “Wakanda Forever”.  Black people were able to see themselves in characters of regality, with immense power, in the forefront where we are usually forced to take the backseat. From the moment he stepped on the scene in Captain America: Civil War, fans knew that his presence in the MCU was a game changer. But it became much more than a role, he became a real hero to so many people, kids and adults alike, and Chadwick Boseman took on the somewhat overwhelming response with a level of patience and understanding that many other celebrities would not have been able to muster. 

For many, his death is met with sadness, shock, and disbelief. Those outside of his family and friends were not even aware of his diagnosis, and to know that he left us with so much while fighting such a terrible disease, one that is both so physically and mentally draining, makes his dedication to his craft even more meaningful. Chadwick Boseman understood the voice that his fame gave him, and always used his platform to advocate for those who would not have been heard otherwise. His presence was a gift. Actors with talent like that are rare, and we were truly blessed to watch him work. He will be greatly missed.